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A Simple Soul
Winner of the 2015 National Indie Excellence Award for Fiction
"All readers must reserve a spot on their shelves for A Simple Soul. A very entertaining read!" - Readers' Favorite
His crafty plan results in a deadly threat. Her hopes keep her locked in a vicious circle. They parted ways, supposedly forever. But will they be able to live apart?
Elizaveta, an attractive Muscovite, experiences a series of odd events: she is followed; she receives anonymous calls, flowers, and gifts. The culprit is her former lover, Timofey. He now lives far from Moscow and has a flourishing business, but a serious threat emerges when the daughter of a local mafia boss wants to marry him. Timofey knows his life is at risk if he says no. He creates a cunning scheme to save himself by staging a sham marriage with Elizaveta playing a primary role. Masterfully manipulating her feelings, Timofey persuades her to come visit him in his small town, but things soon take a dramatic turn.
A seemingly romantic journey becomes a struggle for survival. Timofey and Elizaveta confront real danger when they least expect it. Love and deception reveal their essence when the best of intentions come into conflict with each other. The protagonists try hard to achieve their goals, but, in the end, each of them finds something much different instead. Illusion, ultimately, proves stronger than reality. And coincidences are often not so random after all.
"All readers must reserve a spot on their shelves for A Simple Soul. A very entertaining read!" - Readers' Favorite
His crafty plan results in a deadly threat. Her hopes keep her locked in a vicious circle. They parted ways, supposedly forever. But will they be able to live apart?
Elizaveta, an attractive Muscovite, experiences a series of odd events: she is followed; she receives anonymous calls, flowers, and gifts. The culprit is her former lover, Timofey. He now lives far from Moscow and has a flourishing business, but a serious threat emerges when the daughter of a local mafia boss wants to marry him. Timofey knows his life is at risk if he says no. He creates a cunning scheme to save himself by staging a sham marriage with Elizaveta playing a primary role. Masterfully manipulating her feelings, Timofey persuades her to come visit him in his small town, but things soon take a dramatic turn.
A seemingly romantic journey becomes a struggle for survival. Timofey and Elizaveta confront real danger when they least expect it. Love and deception reveal their essence when the best of intentions come into conflict with each other. The protagonists try hard to achieve their goals, but, in the end, each of them finds something much different instead. Illusion, ultimately, proves stronger than reality. And coincidences are often not so random after all.
- GenresFiction
406 pages, Paperback
First published May 22, 2013
19 people are currently reading
1478 people want to read
About the author
Vadim Babenko
10 books15 followersVadim Babenko left his career in science and business to pursue his lifelong goal of writing novels. Born in the Soviet Union, he earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the Moscow Institute of Physics & Technology, Russia’s equivalent to MIT. As a scientist at the Soviet Academy of Sciences he specialized in biophysics and artificial intelligence. After moving to the U.S. he co-founded a high-tech company. The business soon skyrocketed, and his next ambition, an IPO on the stock exchange, was realized. However, at the height of his success, Vadim dropped everything to set out on his journey as an author and has never looked back. He was a finalist in the National Bestseller Award (Russia) and the winner of the National Indie Excellence Award (USA).
Find out more at www.vadimbabenko.com
Find out more at www.vadimbabenko.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 13, 2013
A Contemporary Journey to the Traditions of Russian Writing
Vadim Babenko has written a quintessentially Russian novel in A SIMPLE SOUL and nothing could be as welcome a return to the magic of the great Russian novelists who more than any other group of writers have been able to plumb to the kaleidoscopic explorations of human feelings of love, sadness, happiness, sadness, revenge and yes, even humor. Think Gogol, Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Chekhov and ...Babenko. We of course must rely on the gifts of translator Christopher Lovelace who joins the ranks for those translators from the past who have brought Russian literature to the English speaking countries. But the tone and scope and manner of writing of this novel must indeed be of Babenko's nature.
Babenko has created two primary characters, the young and beautiful Elizaveta living a semi-reclusive life in Moscow and Timofey who lives in Sivoldaisk. Other characters important to the story are sculpted but it is the tale of these two that focus the book. Elizaveta has been receiving flowers from an unknown source, mysterious phone calls, and is even being stalked. Timofey, who was a boyfriend and classmate of Elizaveta, moved away after saving the life of an unconscious man who lay helplessly outside a bus stop. Apparently, the man he saved is a member of the Russian underworld and was grateful that Timofey came to his rescue. When the patrón returns to his native Sivoldaisk, he takes Timofey along with him as his personal aide. During the ensuing years Timofey leads a successful life with a poignant exception: as Timofey states `disaster, like good fortune, came out of nowhere' and in this case in the form of the patrón's daughter, Maya, who obsesses over Timofey and is determined to marry him. Frightened at the thought that if he rejects Maya, he will anger her father to the point that his life would be in danger, he devises a plan to marry someone else. He remembers Elizaveta, whom he has not seen in seven years, tracks her down, and with the help of a ghostwriter, Timofey writes a love letter to Elizaveta that is delivered to her from a complete stranger. In the letter, Timofey apologizes for having jilted her and beckons her to reunite with him in Sivoldaisk. Elizaveta accepts but is clueless about Timofey's intentions and strange plan and doesn't realize what danger looms ahead for her. The possibility of revenge raises its grotesque head!
How this works out is a gem of a mystery, even more so for the quality of the writing. For readers who still cling to the great Russian novels this new opus from Vadim Babenko is sure to please.
Grady Harp, a KindleBookReview reviewer
Vadim Babenko has written a quintessentially Russian novel in A SIMPLE SOUL and nothing could be as welcome a return to the magic of the great Russian novelists who more than any other group of writers have been able to plumb to the kaleidoscopic explorations of human feelings of love, sadness, happiness, sadness, revenge and yes, even humor. Think Gogol, Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Chekhov and ...Babenko. We of course must rely on the gifts of translator Christopher Lovelace who joins the ranks for those translators from the past who have brought Russian literature to the English speaking countries. But the tone and scope and manner of writing of this novel must indeed be of Babenko's nature.
Babenko has created two primary characters, the young and beautiful Elizaveta living a semi-reclusive life in Moscow and Timofey who lives in Sivoldaisk. Other characters important to the story are sculpted but it is the tale of these two that focus the book. Elizaveta has been receiving flowers from an unknown source, mysterious phone calls, and is even being stalked. Timofey, who was a boyfriend and classmate of Elizaveta, moved away after saving the life of an unconscious man who lay helplessly outside a bus stop. Apparently, the man he saved is a member of the Russian underworld and was grateful that Timofey came to his rescue. When the patrón returns to his native Sivoldaisk, he takes Timofey along with him as his personal aide. During the ensuing years Timofey leads a successful life with a poignant exception: as Timofey states `disaster, like good fortune, came out of nowhere' and in this case in the form of the patrón's daughter, Maya, who obsesses over Timofey and is determined to marry him. Frightened at the thought that if he rejects Maya, he will anger her father to the point that his life would be in danger, he devises a plan to marry someone else. He remembers Elizaveta, whom he has not seen in seven years, tracks her down, and with the help of a ghostwriter, Timofey writes a love letter to Elizaveta that is delivered to her from a complete stranger. In the letter, Timofey apologizes for having jilted her and beckons her to reunite with him in Sivoldaisk. Elizaveta accepts but is clueless about Timofey's intentions and strange plan and doesn't realize what danger looms ahead for her. The possibility of revenge raises its grotesque head!
How this works out is a gem of a mystery, even more so for the quality of the writing. For readers who still cling to the great Russian novels this new opus from Vadim Babenko is sure to please.
Grady Harp, a KindleBookReview reviewer
August 10, 2013
In this book, the second I've read by this author, the reader is taken on a convoluted, musing journey through the lives of a number of citizens of Moscow. As the story meanders from scene to scene and character to character we are treated to a rich depth of description and analysis of the city, its inhabitants and the lives they lead.
Although a somewhat awkward romance is at the core of this book, I would hesitate to describe it as a romantic novel. Rather, the author uses this central thread as a spine around which to hang a rich structure of description and narrative with an imaginative plot twisting throughout.
This book is definitely a masterpiece and I did enjoy reading it. Especially interesting to me were the descriptions of street scenes in Moscow which is a city I've never visited but always found fascinating. Some of these passages are so well written you can almost feel the crowd and scent the odours hanging in the sultry air.
However, I've given this book four stars because, consistent with Babenko's other writing, it is very heavy going from start to finish. Yes, it's rich. Yes, it's detailed. Yes, it's analytical but at times I found myself wishing I could scream at the author to just get on with the story and forget about analysing the introspective meditations of every creature and object along the way.
In this book a character cannot simply purchase a cup of coffee. Such a simple act might consume an entire chapter as the character thinks deeply about the implications of his actions, considers the feelings, emotions and memories evoked by the act of coffee purchasing and, generally, takes an inordinately long time over what is both a simple act and, ultimately, not especially captivating for the reader.
Setting that aside, Babenko is definitely a master of his craft - with the reservation that his style of mastery may not appeal to every reader. I'd definitely recommend the book but I'd suggest reading a couple of sample pages to get a feel for the thing before committing to buy.
Although a somewhat awkward romance is at the core of this book, I would hesitate to describe it as a romantic novel. Rather, the author uses this central thread as a spine around which to hang a rich structure of description and narrative with an imaginative plot twisting throughout.
This book is definitely a masterpiece and I did enjoy reading it. Especially interesting to me were the descriptions of street scenes in Moscow which is a city I've never visited but always found fascinating. Some of these passages are so well written you can almost feel the crowd and scent the odours hanging in the sultry air.
However, I've given this book four stars because, consistent with Babenko's other writing, it is very heavy going from start to finish. Yes, it's rich. Yes, it's detailed. Yes, it's analytical but at times I found myself wishing I could scream at the author to just get on with the story and forget about analysing the introspective meditations of every creature and object along the way.
In this book a character cannot simply purchase a cup of coffee. Such a simple act might consume an entire chapter as the character thinks deeply about the implications of his actions, considers the feelings, emotions and memories evoked by the act of coffee purchasing and, generally, takes an inordinately long time over what is both a simple act and, ultimately, not especially captivating for the reader.
Setting that aside, Babenko is definitely a master of his craft - with the reservation that his style of mastery may not appeal to every reader. I'd definitely recommend the book but I'd suggest reading a couple of sample pages to get a feel for the thing before committing to buy.
hiatus
May 7, 2014Got my autographed copy from goodreads giveaway :))
Can't wait to read this!
Can't wait to read this!
September 23, 2013
Intricate, Cerebral, and very, very Russian
A Simple Soul is anything but simple. As with matryoshka nesting dolls, Russian author Vadim Babenko fits stories inside stories in this clever, cerebral, and complex novel. Babenko tucks an unlikely romance inside an intricate thriller, wraps it in intellectual musings, and sends the whole thing on a tour of modern Moscow and environs. Filled with astute observations about the contradictory inner and outer lives of modern humans, A Simple Soul offers much food for thought even as it engages in an entertaining quest for love and treasure.
At the heart of the story is Elizaveta Bestuzheva, a Moscow resident who begins receiving mysterious phone calls, flower deliveries, and anonymous messages. As Elizaveta follows the clues that lead to Timofey Tsarkov, an old flame with new ambitions, Babenko introduces a wide-ranging cast of characters. There’s American treasure-hunter Frank White Jr., Russian historian Nikolai Kramskoy, and spurned lover Alexander Frolov. All of them are passengers on the same train that is taking Elizaveta to her old lover. Unaware of how their stories will intersect, the travelers ponder their own motives and next moves.
The constant contradiction between personal motives and public actions is a theme repeated throughout the book. Timofey, for instance, wants to marry Elizaveta not out of the passion he pretends but to escape the clutches of the daughter of an overzealous mafia boss. He’s willing to trade intimacy for safety and security. Similarly, Nikolai has a deep respect for history, but he works for clients who want to locate historical documents that bolster their images, a task that often requires Nikolai to embellish his finds. The author explores this duplicity from many angles, and while his observations remain fresh throughout, their frequency and length can at times stall the progress of the story.
A strong sense of place permeates Babenko’s writing, whether in his characters’ departure from the urban landscape of Moscow or their arrival on the smaller streets of Sivoldaisk. Babenko uses vivid imagery throughout, ranging from the dramatic to the subtle. Of Moscow, for instance, he writes boldly, “This was a strange world with its own color spectrum: poisonous greenery and puddles producing reddish-yellow lichen and rosy moss oozing into the cracks of the Khrushchev projects.”
Sivoldaisk gets a more nuanced treatment as a “wild steppe for some; for others it’s the dust grinding in their teeth.” The specificity of Babenko’s descriptions not only makes them effective and evocative but also asks the reader to pay attention to his carefully crafted sentences. Paying attention is crucial since the conflicted main characters run into unexpected, and serious, trouble on their journey, and it’s important to know each person’s private and public story.
Those expecting an edge-of-your-seat page-turner might find the contemplative tone of A Simple Soul to be challenging, but it can also be immensely engaging. Babenko’s reflective rhythm encourages immersion into his world; he poses pivotal questions about the nature of reality and illusion and the creation of identity in the modern world.
Sheila M. Trask for ForeWord Reviews
0inShare
A Simple Soul is anything but simple. As with matryoshka nesting dolls, Russian author Vadim Babenko fits stories inside stories in this clever, cerebral, and complex novel. Babenko tucks an unlikely romance inside an intricate thriller, wraps it in intellectual musings, and sends the whole thing on a tour of modern Moscow and environs. Filled with astute observations about the contradictory inner and outer lives of modern humans, A Simple Soul offers much food for thought even as it engages in an entertaining quest for love and treasure.
At the heart of the story is Elizaveta Bestuzheva, a Moscow resident who begins receiving mysterious phone calls, flower deliveries, and anonymous messages. As Elizaveta follows the clues that lead to Timofey Tsarkov, an old flame with new ambitions, Babenko introduces a wide-ranging cast of characters. There’s American treasure-hunter Frank White Jr., Russian historian Nikolai Kramskoy, and spurned lover Alexander Frolov. All of them are passengers on the same train that is taking Elizaveta to her old lover. Unaware of how their stories will intersect, the travelers ponder their own motives and next moves.
The constant contradiction between personal motives and public actions is a theme repeated throughout the book. Timofey, for instance, wants to marry Elizaveta not out of the passion he pretends but to escape the clutches of the daughter of an overzealous mafia boss. He’s willing to trade intimacy for safety and security. Similarly, Nikolai has a deep respect for history, but he works for clients who want to locate historical documents that bolster their images, a task that often requires Nikolai to embellish his finds. The author explores this duplicity from many angles, and while his observations remain fresh throughout, their frequency and length can at times stall the progress of the story.
A strong sense of place permeates Babenko’s writing, whether in his characters’ departure from the urban landscape of Moscow or their arrival on the smaller streets of Sivoldaisk. Babenko uses vivid imagery throughout, ranging from the dramatic to the subtle. Of Moscow, for instance, he writes boldly, “This was a strange world with its own color spectrum: poisonous greenery and puddles producing reddish-yellow lichen and rosy moss oozing into the cracks of the Khrushchev projects.”
Sivoldaisk gets a more nuanced treatment as a “wild steppe for some; for others it’s the dust grinding in their teeth.” The specificity of Babenko’s descriptions not only makes them effective and evocative but also asks the reader to pay attention to his carefully crafted sentences. Paying attention is crucial since the conflicted main characters run into unexpected, and serious, trouble on their journey, and it’s important to know each person’s private and public story.
Those expecting an edge-of-your-seat page-turner might find the contemplative tone of A Simple Soul to be challenging, but it can also be immensely engaging. Babenko’s reflective rhythm encourages immersion into his world; he poses pivotal questions about the nature of reality and illusion and the creation of identity in the modern world.
Sheila M. Trask for ForeWord Reviews
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July 21, 2014
Reviewed by Marissa
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
As I read the book and more characters were introduced, I realized this was a story that involved many characters whose lives touched at some point. Everyone is connected by a thin thread and as the threads interweave, a web is formed drawing them closer together. The hard part was waiting for that connection. Some I saw immediately, others took almost the entire book to play out. It was amusing when they occasionally passed one another on the street or just missed each other in restaurants. When they began to merge into the same area, I got excited. I could see the “big showdown” coming and couldn’t wait to see how it played out.
The hardest part of the book were the proper nouns. I’m pretty good with languages but I haven’t had much experience with the Slavic languages. I found myself tongue-twisting and just slaughtering the names. On the flip side, it peaked my interest in Russia once again – a place I yearned to visit when I was young and before the wall came down.
Several of the characters thoughts mirrored my own from one time or another:
“When she snuggled into her cozy sofa with a book, or laid out her belongings and spread her aura over her small apartment, it became clear there was no space for anyone else.”
“They didn’t speak now of their former lives, but about each other and the burdens of loneliness, guardedly admitting mutual sympathy and selecting their words carefully to avoid being pathetic.”
“The soul may be caged while the spirit soars.”
“We women are gullible. We believe everything they hurl at us – flowers, candy hearts, the Soul Number…”
“They don’t even read books now if too much is written in them.”
A Simple Soul is not a simple book to read. There are several plot lines and characters to follow. Some characters seem almost similar and I found it hard to keep them separate – or to at least remember which was which. However, if you are looking for something solid and intriguing, A Simple Soul just may do it for you.
Favorite Quote: And I’ll always be wanted: I am Venus, my stone is diamond.
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
As I read the book and more characters were introduced, I realized this was a story that involved many characters whose lives touched at some point. Everyone is connected by a thin thread and as the threads interweave, a web is formed drawing them closer together. The hard part was waiting for that connection. Some I saw immediately, others took almost the entire book to play out. It was amusing when they occasionally passed one another on the street or just missed each other in restaurants. When they began to merge into the same area, I got excited. I could see the “big showdown” coming and couldn’t wait to see how it played out.
The hardest part of the book were the proper nouns. I’m pretty good with languages but I haven’t had much experience with the Slavic languages. I found myself tongue-twisting and just slaughtering the names. On the flip side, it peaked my interest in Russia once again – a place I yearned to visit when I was young and before the wall came down.
Several of the characters thoughts mirrored my own from one time or another:
“When she snuggled into her cozy sofa with a book, or laid out her belongings and spread her aura over her small apartment, it became clear there was no space for anyone else.”
“They didn’t speak now of their former lives, but about each other and the burdens of loneliness, guardedly admitting mutual sympathy and selecting their words carefully to avoid being pathetic.”
“The soul may be caged while the spirit soars.”
“We women are gullible. We believe everything they hurl at us – flowers, candy hearts, the Soul Number…”
“They don’t even read books now if too much is written in them.”
A Simple Soul is not a simple book to read. There are several plot lines and characters to follow. Some characters seem almost similar and I found it hard to keep them separate – or to at least remember which was which. However, if you are looking for something solid and intriguing, A Simple Soul just may do it for you.
Favorite Quote: And I’ll always be wanted: I am Venus, my stone is diamond.
August 17, 2013
A Simple Soul is the story of two star crossed lovers......No, not really. It is the story of two young people who come together under false pretenses, each with an agenda of their own. And it is the story of how, no matter how simple a soul may seem to be, without knowing a person, we can never understand the complexities beneath the surface.
Timofey Tsarkov inadvertently saved the life of a man with connections in the mafia and in politics. When the man returned to his home, he took Timofey along with him as a personal assistant. Timofey used this time to learn what he needed from his patron, and to become a rich and well connected man himself, so that he could eventually take revenge upon the a world that he felt had wronged him years before.
Timofey never planned upon his patron's daughter becoming so smitten with him as she grew up that she would demand that they be married. Timofey cannot refuse the request without alienating her father and putting his own life in danger, so he comes up with a plan to 'marry' someone else first. As he casts around for the perfect partner in his scheme, he remembers Elizaveta, the woman he had been with 7 years ago.
Elizaveta is a young Moscovite woman who has begun to notice some strange things happening around her. She is being followed, and flowers are being delivered anonymously to her, even on the street as she is walking home. When she receives a long romantic letter from her former lover, Timofey, she decides to go and meet him.
But....while Timofey has decided to marry to Elizaveta to avoid marriage to another woman, Elizaveta has decided to make Timofey love her, so that she can get revenge upon him for breaking her heart. Each of them with their own agenda that they refuse to reveal to the other.
Throw in an occult specialist who is helping a client with a project, and an American on a treasure hunt and you end up with an adventure that puts both of their lives at risk.
Very good story.
Timofey Tsarkov inadvertently saved the life of a man with connections in the mafia and in politics. When the man returned to his home, he took Timofey along with him as a personal assistant. Timofey used this time to learn what he needed from his patron, and to become a rich and well connected man himself, so that he could eventually take revenge upon the a world that he felt had wronged him years before.
Timofey never planned upon his patron's daughter becoming so smitten with him as she grew up that she would demand that they be married. Timofey cannot refuse the request without alienating her father and putting his own life in danger, so he comes up with a plan to 'marry' someone else first. As he casts around for the perfect partner in his scheme, he remembers Elizaveta, the woman he had been with 7 years ago.
Elizaveta is a young Moscovite woman who has begun to notice some strange things happening around her. She is being followed, and flowers are being delivered anonymously to her, even on the street as she is walking home. When she receives a long romantic letter from her former lover, Timofey, she decides to go and meet him.
But....while Timofey has decided to marry to Elizaveta to avoid marriage to another woman, Elizaveta has decided to make Timofey love her, so that she can get revenge upon him for breaking her heart. Each of them with their own agenda that they refuse to reveal to the other.
Throw in an occult specialist who is helping a client with a project, and an American on a treasure hunt and you end up with an adventure that puts both of their lives at risk.
Very good story.
August 30, 2015
We see into the thoughts of numerous characters while Timofey is trying to avoid marriage to his boss' daughter, by convincing an old girlfriend to marry him. They get into some amusing situations, including being kidnapped and a brawl.
This book opens with Elizaveta Andreyevna walking out of the apartment of her "latest lover" and includes references to experiences occurring. There is very minimal dialogue for the first half of the book. Lots of long sentences that have a wealth of descriptive details, which makes for very slow reading. Elizaveta mentions every shop and stall she passes on her way to work and again after she leaves to go home. Written in the 3rd person, we switch from character to character, which leads to confusion, and sometimes tells what a different person was doing hours before the current event we just read about. Some characters have other names and numerous nicknames throughout, Elizaveta is also referred to as Bestuzheva. To say I'm confused is an understatement, "…she knew she held an entire universe inside her, replete with heavenly bodies. Some of her planets were inhabited, and she could hear the voices of all the countless creatures who lived there."
I'm sure this is a good book but do not put it down, read continuously or you will get lost. This is not one of those books that I couldn't not wait to pick up again, it dragged a lot and lost my interest. Not a Christian book. 2 out of 5 stars.
This book opens with Elizaveta Andreyevna walking out of the apartment of her "latest lover" and includes references to experiences occurring. There is very minimal dialogue for the first half of the book. Lots of long sentences that have a wealth of descriptive details, which makes for very slow reading. Elizaveta mentions every shop and stall she passes on her way to work and again after she leaves to go home. Written in the 3rd person, we switch from character to character, which leads to confusion, and sometimes tells what a different person was doing hours before the current event we just read about. Some characters have other names and numerous nicknames throughout, Elizaveta is also referred to as Bestuzheva. To say I'm confused is an understatement, "…she knew she held an entire universe inside her, replete with heavenly bodies. Some of her planets were inhabited, and she could hear the voices of all the countless creatures who lived there."
I'm sure this is a good book but do not put it down, read continuously or you will get lost. This is not one of those books that I couldn't not wait to pick up again, it dragged a lot and lost my interest. Not a Christian book. 2 out of 5 stars.
September 24, 2016
My initial thought of A Simple Soul was Vadim Babenko’s vast vocabulary. Born in Soviet Union, Vadim gives the experience of Russian culture, while his English writing is quite precise and refreshing. I felt I was reading something of great value because of his choice of words.
I found it interesting how often the main characters were baffled by members of the opposite gender and at other times they felt they had mastered their understanding. A perfect example was when the American, Frank White Jr., spend a few evenings with a call girl. After feeling a connection he suggested taking her to America, but left her with just his number. Olga almost felt sorry for the deceitful, helpless act she bestowed.
Timofey is trapped in an engagement, and the only way he sees out of it is finding another wife while his fiancée is away. He has Elizaveta, a past lover, followed. After sending her flowers he arranges to meet her. Although Timofey thrives on elaborate plans too many people are thrown into the mix. At times he wonders if it is worth the fight they have to go through to be together.
I found it interesting how often the main characters were baffled by members of the opposite gender and at other times they felt they had mastered their understanding. A perfect example was when the American, Frank White Jr., spend a few evenings with a call girl. After feeling a connection he suggested taking her to America, but left her with just his number. Olga almost felt sorry for the deceitful, helpless act she bestowed.
Timofey is trapped in an engagement, and the only way he sees out of it is finding another wife while his fiancée is away. He has Elizaveta, a past lover, followed. After sending her flowers he arranges to meet her. Although Timofey thrives on elaborate plans too many people are thrown into the mix. At times he wonders if it is worth the fight they have to go through to be together.
June 20, 2013
A Simple Soul by Vadim Babenko is a four hundred and six page fiction novel written in third person, past tense. This novel was nominated for one of Russia's most prestigious awards and recently translated and published in English. There are quite a few references that I was not familiar with and the writing style is a lot different than what we are traditionally used to, however for a nominated foreign title I had to try it out. The story is told mostly through the narrator, there is not a lot of dialogue, a big pet peeve of mine, but I am guessing that may be due to the differing writing standards?
The story is about Timofey Timofeyevich Tsarkov being forced into marriage to a mafia boss's daughter. He has a private investigator tail an old girlfriend, Elizaveta Andreyevna Bestuzhevathen, before he eventually plays on her emotions and gets her involved by faking that they are already married.
The story is about Timofey Timofeyevich Tsarkov being forced into marriage to a mafia boss's daughter. He has a private investigator tail an old girlfriend, Elizaveta Andreyevna Bestuzhevathen, before he eventually plays on her emotions and gets her involved by faking that they are already married.
June 10, 2013
"A Simple Soul" was nominated for a Russian bestseller award. This unique book, whose colourful characters and complex plot transcend genre, deserves plaudits.
A helmet of blonde hair frames Elizaveta Andreyevna Bestuzheva's gracile, aristocratic face. Men flock to her like bees to honey, and she swats the lesser of them away. Even Alexander, her boyfriend of six months, is dissatisfyingly obedient.
Elizaveta is being spied on by Timofey Tsarkov, a hard-hearted lover from her past. Having abandoned her seven years ago in a fit of pique, now he has devised an elaborate scheme to win her back as his bride. Strange events being to envelop her: yells from the crowd, anonymous emails, mysterious phone calls, and the attention of Tsarkov's ubiquitous private eye. Will Tsarkov's web of artifice once again ensnare Elizaveta's vulnerable soul; and if so, can she trust him?
A helmet of blonde hair frames Elizaveta Andreyevna Bestuzheva's gracile, aristocratic face. Men flock to her like bees to honey, and she swats the lesser of them away. Even Alexander, her boyfriend of six months, is dissatisfyingly obedient.
Elizaveta is being spied on by Timofey Tsarkov, a hard-hearted lover from her past. Having abandoned her seven years ago in a fit of pique, now he has devised an elaborate scheme to win her back as his bride. Strange events being to envelop her: yells from the crowd, anonymous emails, mysterious phone calls, and the attention of Tsarkov's ubiquitous private eye. Will Tsarkov's web of artifice once again ensnare Elizaveta's vulnerable soul; and if so, can she trust him?
June 11, 2013
I enjoyed 'Semmant', one of Babenko's other novels. 'Semmant' is a techno-futuristic science fiction romp, and 'A Simple Soul' is a distinctively Russian, outré romance-thriller novel. I slightly preferred the former book, but this is also good.
"Love doesn't exist any more in Russia"--only lies and laziness, and literature remain. The words of Savelly Savellievich seem to echo the author's sentiments. In place of love, Timofey Tsarkov (a.k.a. "Tsar") substitutes underhand methods of fascination to win the affections of Elizaveta. It is time for him to marry, and she is the only suitable woman in the country.
This is trouble enough for them both to handle. However, when they are kidnapped by a couple of philosophising gangsters, Elizaveta's nerves and Timofey's wits are tested to the limit.
"Love doesn't exist any more in Russia"--only lies and laziness, and literature remain. The words of Savelly Savellievich seem to echo the author's sentiments. In place of love, Timofey Tsarkov (a.k.a. "Tsar") substitutes underhand methods of fascination to win the affections of Elizaveta. It is time for him to marry, and she is the only suitable woman in the country.
This is trouble enough for them both to handle. However, when they are kidnapped by a couple of philosophising gangsters, Elizaveta's nerves and Timofey's wits are tested to the limit.
August 20, 2013
I agree that this shouldn't be classified as a romance, but it is the main story in this book. Timofey has hard luck, and as a result decides it is best to move on and pursue a way to make those he finds responsible for his hardship pay. This directly effects the woman who loved him, Elizaveta, as after a near tragedy she is left alone. Years later, a selfish plan to get out of a mob betrothal causes much more harm than good; Timofey must now find a way to keep him and his former love out of the grasp of danger. This book is incredible. This is proof of the author's ability to brilliantly paint the picture of the surroundings of his characters, as well as implanting a great image of who they are into the reading. ‘A Simple Soul’ is by far an exciting and twisting story, even with the intertwining plots of more than just the main characters. Check this one out for sure.
August 31, 2013
Timofey and Elizaveta will steal your heart. You will struggle with them as they try to bring their love to fruition. They are in love when what he saw as good fortune happened to Timofey. He saves the life of an important underworld figure who whisks him off to a grand life working for him. He finds himself engaged to the bosses daughter.
This is the story of love lost and won, betrayal and revenge. A broken hard can turn cold the results could be deadly. Vadim Babenko tells a tale that is in the same vein as many Russian Greats. You are in store for a rare treat.
This is the story of love lost and won, betrayal and revenge. A broken hard can turn cold the results could be deadly. Vadim Babenko tells a tale that is in the same vein as many Russian Greats. You are in store for a rare treat.
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